Weird times in the ol’ US of A, and anyone who doesn’t think so may have a serious case of cognitive dissonance. To be fair, the vast majority of the country continues to carry on with normal life despite an aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration. Weeks ago, videos were circulating showing fires and riots in Los Angeles, even though the protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were largely peaceful. The decision to call in the National Guard, and the threat of calling in the Marines, were viewed as unnecessary.
While the protests were happening a considerable distance from the waves at Lower Trestles and Malibu, there is a real threat for any non-American to get caught up in a royal mess. So, if you are coming to the United States as a foreigner looking to score waves, there are some things you should know.
First of all, for the past month there has been an executive order for ICE to arrest 3,000 people per day. Most of the attention has been focused on people, including children, being snatched up in broad daylight from homes, businesses, and public areas; these arrests can also take place at the airport upon arrival and there are many different things that may invoke the ire of a grumpy official.
Secondly, arrests can be made for things as simple as having tattoos, admitting to past drug use, having political memes (critical of the administration) on your phone, or being non-white and not having documentation. Australians entering the US have been questioned as to whether they have ever taken an illicit substance–like cannabis, MDMA, or cocaine–in their entire lifetime; an admission to doing so can result in immediate deportation under the current enforcement. A video from the protests featuring a white, female Australian news reporter who was shot by a rubber bullet for no apparent reason has gone viral.
In another instance of a white English-speaking person who could be wrongly targeted, check the clip below to hear from a British man recently interviewed about his arm tattoo, as an alleged reference to his Venezuelan gang affiliation, whereas the reality is that it’s a clock representing the time and day his daughter was born.
While there were no reports of any CT surfers harassed upon entry to the United States for the Lowers event, the upcoming US Open features a far larger pool of competitors and could easily prove to be a different story. If so, it would show that the US (isn’t) Open.
If you are adamant about traveling to the US to surf, be sure to check any advisories from your embassies and consulates as well as scour reports from recent travelers or immigration lawyers. For further safety, check the videos below to know your rights and what to do if you are caught up in a sticky situation.
If you are on the fence about whether now is a good time to come for a surf trip, in my opinion, you’re better off waiting until the dust settles–the summer surf can be fun but it’s not worth getting deported over. The World Travel and Tourism Council expects the US to lose $12.5 billion dollars in tourism revenue in 2025.